The Pune RTO recorded an upward swing in registration of electric vehicles, including public and goods carriers, in the 2023-24 finacial year because of their cost-effectiveness in the long run.
The registration of electric two-wheelers and cars recorded an increase of 5% and 25%, respectively, in the last financial year (FY) compared to the 2022-23 fiscal. Electric goods transport vehicles registered an increase of more than 100% in the last financial year compared to the 2022-23 FY.
Bibwewadi’s Kuldip Patil recently bought two small electric goods transport vehicles. He said, “Their cost is a little higher than petrol and diesel versions, but these vehicles save me the cost of fuel, which has come down only marginally recently. My business involves transportation of goods only in the city limits. With one full charge, these vehicles can ply around 250km. It is enough for me. The business is on a high at present and I will recover the cost within two years.”
The Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) has so far registered close to 81,000 electric vehicles (EVs) — the highest in the state and around 18% of all EVs registered in Maharashtra. A total of 4,56,117 EVs have been registered until now in Maharashtra.
“We expect the EV numbers to grow even more. Many e-charging points have come up in different parts of the city, giving a boost to the registration of EVs,” Pune RTO Sanjiv Bhor said.
A section of users differed. “Several e-charging stations and points do not work. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) had plans to come up with many charging points in their jurisdiction. But things haven’t moved as desired. Lack of charging points is a major concern even now,” Dhanori’s Harsh Dhawan, who owns an electric two-wheeler, said.
PMC has a plan to come up with 500 charging stations and 200 docking stations at different parts of the city. A source said of these, around 50 charging stations had come up. PCMC’s plan to set up charging points at 22 locations was still in the initial tendering process, the source said.
Sachin Katke, a working professional from Koregaon Park, said, “The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) and the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) have several e-buses and many charging stations in their depots. A system can be introduced, wherein private vehicle owners can use these points in lieu of a cost. It will be an additional source of revenue for PMPML and MSRTC.”
Dhruv Ruparel, the president of Petrol Dealers Association Pune, said several factors, including cost, were responsible for the higher registration of electric two-wheelers than four-wheelers. “E-cars have a high upfront cost, making them less accessible to a larger segment. Apart from the vehicle’s initial cost, batteries start deteriorating after a few years and need to be replaced. It costs 35-40% of the vehicles’ cost. Also, few charging points are a concern,” Ruparel told TOI.
“Electric two-wheelers, on other hand, are affordable, have a lower total ownership cost and are well suited for shorter commutes, aligning better with the current infrastructure and usage patterns in many Indian cities. The charging time required for them is much shorter. They can be charged in emergencies even by plugging in at any electrical point,” Ruparel said.
